Golf in Kanchanburi is staring to see a resurgence as the weather has now turned cooler and we are in the mist of probably the best Thailand golf season ever! Over the last 2 days I had discussed the various golf options in the region by reviewing 5 best Kanchanburi courses. Here is the final post in my River Kwai golf series, covering accommodation selections as well as mentioning a great local dining tip, regional culture and history. If you want to stay in the area, you basically have three ...

Kanchanaburi or River Kwai has been one of the most surprising golf destinations this year. I have personally recommended golf in Kanchanaburi to over 100 golf tourists and they are all amazed at the variety, quality, and superb golf values in the area. This review will cover of some of the better plays in the area. In the Kanchanaburi / River Kwai Valley region itself there are around ten golf courses of varying quality. My recommendations: The best golfing in River Kwai is by and far the 27 ...

Kanchanaburi (River Kwai) golf will be the subject of my next few posts. I hope you find the information useful and interesting as golfing in this area has been kind of a secret, at least up to now. Golfing in the Kanchanaburi or River Kwai Valley is something of a well-kept secret. It is well worth the 150 km. drive out to the west of Bangkok to Thailand’s fourth largest province on its borders with Myanmar (Burma). Once there you can experience golf on some fine courses set against a b...

The final Phuket golf course review and latest addition to Phuket’s array of fine golf courses is Mission Hills Phuket Golf Resort and Spa. Opened in 2005 on the scenic north-east coast of the island the course is about a 40 minute drive from Patong Beach. There are 27 holes designed by Nicklaus Design (Golden Bear International Inc.). 9 holes can be played at night. The Championship course measures 6,308 yards. Mission Hills might be by the sea and has some splendid sea views, but it is not a ...

My golfing in Phuket series continues today with a review of Loch Palm Golf Club. Close to the Phuket Country Club and designed by the same architect, is the Loch Palm Golf Club. This course encompasses two sparkling lakes and has several demanding holes providing a real test of skill – including the tough 18th hole, with blind shots almost all the way to the green. As with all of the courses in Phuket, Loch Palm has charming, smiling, helpful caddies, and on this hole you definitely need your c...

Here is my next Phuket golf club review of a course also presenting good, holiday golf, the Laguna Phuket (formerly Banyan Tree) Golf Club at the Laguna Resort. It is most convenient to residents in the five top class hotels at the Resort and also only 25 minutes drive from Patong Beach. This is a course designed by Messrs. Max Wexler and David Abel to high standards, but geared to give pleasure rather than pain. Low handicappers will find that it provides plenty of challenge to test their ski...

The 10th hole at Phuket Country Club, one of the few par five holes where you can be on or close in one, was covered yesterday! Now I thought best to go over some related golf research and trivia regarding the little know flight of the golf “condor”. There are only three recorded instances of a ‘condor’ – four strokes under par on a single hole. The longest hole-in-one in the UK was set when Shawn Lynch cut the corner off a dog-leg on the 496-yard 17th hole at Teign Valley Golf Club in Exeter....

Possibly the best all-round golf course on Phuket Island, in terms of representing enjoyable, not too intimidating golf, whilst in no way being a push-over, is the doyen of Phuket’s golf courses, the Phuket Country Club, the first major 18-hole golf course to be built on the island. It is conveniently located 10 – 15 minutes drive from the main tourist areas of Patong Beach and Kata/Karon. This interesting layout, designed by well-known local Thai architect, Dr. Sukitti Klangvisai, is set in ro...

Here is the continuation of my Blue Canyon Country Club review. A second 18 holes, the Blue Canyon Lakes Course, was opened a couple of years ago and presents an equally demanding challenge. It has been closed for the past six months for extensive maintenance work and is scheduled to re-open in two weeks on November 13. I can not wait to play the Lakes. The last time I was in town I had the good fortune to be given a preview of the upgrading and I fully expect the course to be as good as, if no...

My golf in Phuket posts continue today with a review of the Blue Canyon Country Club’s Canyon Course. Just down the road from Thai Muang, seemingly only a good three wood from the airport lies Blue Canyon Country Club. From the outset, Blue Canyon’s developers set their sights high; it was to be not simply Thailand’s most prestigious country club and golf complex, but also the premier golf course in Asia. Today, some 15 years after its opening in late 1991, Blue Canyon achieved its origin...

Golf in Phuket will be the focus of my next few posts. Phuket has long been the paradise island that lovers of sun, sand and sea have come to love. Nowadays, Phuket also has become the tropical island that golfers dream about. Fifteen years ago, golf was scarcely known on Phuket Island. Now, it boasts no less than nine excellent courses, including Thai Mung, on the mainland just across the Sara sin Bridge to the island and the first course I will discuss. Actually, Thai Mung Beach Golf and Mari...

Nick, a good Thailand golf buddy of mine who had recently returned from a long weekend Pattaya golf trip with six of his best friends was in a state of shock when he saw his Thai wife looking through his credit card bills. Being a curious and non-trusting type, his wife asked him to explain a 1,500 baht charge marked “joiner” from the Hard Rock Hotel in Pattaya (see photo at left). Fortunately my friend was quite fast on his feet, maybe due to other past and similar occurrences, and explained t...

Golf in Thailand can be different from golf in other parts of the world and many of the unique attributes of Thailand golf have been covered in my previous posts. One area that is often overlooked or assumed to be the same is what to bring with you to the golf course. Five of the essential items to bring to the golf course in Thailand (aside from your golf clubs) include: 1. Light, loose fitting, cotton garments, including cotton socks. Many golfers prefer to wear tailored shorts (with black so...

Last week at Green Valley Country Club I was down by one stroke playing a Stableford match against two visiting golfers with one hole to go. Then on the 18th after hitting a nice drive, I found myself short of the green due to a slightly fat long iron shot. For certain I was going to loose the round as one of my opponents was on in two, an assured of a par, or worse case bogey. Well I thought about what club to hit, and after seeing the short cut fringe and green sloping towards me from back to...

With great Thailand golf plans in hand, golf holiday dates firmed up, and tee times confirmed, what else do you need to be aware for your Thailand golf vacation? The short answer is food and water! Here are some tips to help ensure that you enjoy your time golfing in Thailand. Before play, don’t skip meals. This could affect your focus and energy levels dramatically. I suggest you eat a small, balanced meal 30 to 60 minutes before tee time. An example of this may be a low-fat and l...

Thailand golf high season is fast approaching and golfers thinking about a Thailand golf vacation most always ask me: 1. When is the best time of year to play golf in Thailand? and 2. What time of day is best to tee off? I have covered the first question in several past posts, but the later question is quite interesting and I have not seen much information on the topic. Actually, you can golf at any time from sun up (around 6:30 to 7 a.m.), throughout the day. The latest tee-off time realistica...

Thailand golf is what you are all here for and in today’s continuation post I will cover common tipping practices on the golf course, in bars, and while traveling on the road here. On the golf course, tips are one of the main ways the caddie generates their income. Although you pay a caddie fee in the cost of your green fee, only a portion of this goes to the caddie so the emphasis is then on them receiving good tips. At my golf travel company a 300 baht minimum is suggested to all Thaila...

I bet you thought I would post another golf tip. The next 2 articles deal, not with golf advice, but rather with gratuities. I find this an even more appropriate discussion topic since many golf travelers to Thailand may be wondering about local practices. Although not traditional in Thailand, you should plan to tip drivers, porters, and restaurant and bar staff and of course your golf caddies. However, please note that the level of tipping is still extremely small in comparison to that in the ...

In yesterday’s post I wrote about what to expect from your caddie. In return, she will appreciate being treated with politeness and respect. It is normal to offer your caddies refreshment when you stop at a drinks kiosk. Find out from your Thailand golf travel agent about the ‘going rate’ to tip your caddie and, if she has performed well, double it – remember, her tip may be all she is earning that day. Most especially, the spirit of sanuk sanuk, which translates as "fun and g...

Thailand golf caddies raise so many questions for golf travelers here that I thought to completely re-write, including some original photos,my prior Thailand Golf Caddies article. As regular golfers in Thailand know, one of the undoubted joys of playing golf here is being aided and abetted by our delightful lady caddies. Yet, first time visitors are sometimes nervous about having to take a caddie (even when they rent a golf cart), perhaps feeling that their standard of golf is not up to being o...

Golf travelers to Thailand should be very concerned about the weather as it can have a dramatic affect on the success of your trip. September and October are the wettest months of the year (see insert at left) and this year in no exception. Yearly flooding throughout the country continues, with the north east and central areas the most affected. In addition, low lying areas in and around Bangkok have standing water and are best avoided until the rains subside later this month. The northern citie...

Bangkok Golf Club brings back many fond memories as I was a member there in the early ‘90’s. It is probably the course I have most played during all of my time in Thailand. Having hosted several major tournaments, plus its 9th hole being ranked as one of the top 500 holes in all golf, it disappoints me greatly to report on what is going on today. Bangkok Golf Club has gone down hill over the last few years in a number of important ways. The greens are all showing signs of fungus and over play, ...

October is the wettest month in Thailand and the coastal areas in particular are taking a real beating. How does this effect golf in a place, say like Hua Hin? This week I visited to both Imperial Lake View Golf Club and Springfield Village Golf and Spa to check things out for myself. The daily rains come almost exactly at 1:00PM each day and then showers result in off and down pours throughout the afternoon. Both days I was out we were able to easily play a full 18 holes without interruption,...

Here is the final portion of this article which deals with a returning expats first golf impressions in Phuket. The other courses, except Blue Canyon, are covered and a good suggestion for after golf dinner on the eastern side of Phuket is also included. Mission Hills Country Club (shown at left) is a great alternative to Blue Canyon. The hotel, clubhouse and other facilities at Mission Hills are superb, even better than Blue Canyon. The course is stunniung as it is laid out right on the Andama...

Here is the second of three parts of this post covering the possible reasons for the price hikes at Blue Canyon Country Club and an excellent suggestion that would benefit everyone. The reasons for the green fee increases depend on whom you talk to. One view is that the new owners of Blue Canyon, Deutsche Bank, want to make it the most exclusive course in Asia, on a par with courses which host the majors and PGA tour events. This is fine, in my view, the BCCC courses are challenging...

I have a special treat for all readers. A good friend of mine and long time golfing resident of Phuket has agreed to author a series of original articles about golf in Thailand. These articles will be published exclusively here at the Thailand golf zone. Over the next 3 days I will publish the first of these articles dealing with impressions and new golf experiences in Phuket, from a returning expatriate who has been away for several years. Here is the first part covering green fees and recent...

The second part of this post will cover the other 3 must play Thailand golf courses. Please let me know any favorites you may have by posting a comment. Also, if you need to reach me you can contact me at my Thailand golf vacation company. The first two of the Thailand golf must play courses were covered in the part one of this article. Here is the final part of this post which covers the other three must play choices. The third course is Phuket’s, Blue Canyon Country Club site of the 199...

The five must play Thailand golf courses are all are located near popular tourist destinations; making them easy to get to if you are visiting Thailand. Over the next two posts I will review each course as well as cite specifics as to past tournaments, current playing conditions, and facilities on offer. Number one and two are located in Bangkok. Thai Country Club (TCC) and Alpine Golf and Sports Club, are both good examples of very challenging, well designed courses. Each is kept in immaculate ...

What does Thailand golf have to do with Rock & Roll? Well the 27 hole Lakewood Country Club’s 3 nine holes are aptly named Lake, Wood, and Rock. Only Roll is missing. Perhaps I should suggest this very appropriate name, Rock, for the next 9. A few days ago I had the opportunity to play at this popular, easy to reach, Bangkok course. It has been a few years since I had played Lakewood, popularized mainly by the large membership of Asian expatriates. And since it was a weekday and...

Thailand golf history is steeped in tradition as covered in last Friday’s post. Here is my information about the modern times golf history in Thailand. You can recognize many of the courses mentioned, and feel proud when you step up to the tees there, not only are you playing a a great course, but one with a royal history. Modern times golf was introduced into Thailand at the beautiful Navatanee Golf Course in Bangkok, which was purposely constructed in 1973 and hosted the World Cup of Go...